Land clearing laws under review

More than a decade after Australian state governments imposed stricter controls on land clearing, the laws in some some states are being reviewed or relaxed.

In Western Australia, with an election just over two weeks away, the WA Farmers Federation says it wants that state's ban on land clearing overturned—or at least compensation paid to affected farmers.

Last week, farmer Max Szulc from Munglinup in the state's south east was released after serving a total of 18 months behind bars for defying land clearing orders, whilst in NSW and Queensland, the Wilderness Society says governments in both states are now undermining land clearing laws.